Analysis of sectoral energy and exergy use of Saudi Arabia

This paper presents the analysis of sectoral energy and exergy utilization of Saudi Arabia by considering the energy and exergy flows for the 12 years between 1990 and 2001. Sectoral energy and exergy efficiencies are obtained for the subsectors and the devices used in each sector. Energy and exergy flow diagrams for Saudi Arabia are also presented, respectively, to illustrate the situation on how energy and exergy efficiencies vary in each sector. The residential sector appears to be the most energy efficient sector, and the industrial sector to be the most exergy efficient. It is believed that the current methodology is useful for analyzing sectoral energy and exergy utilization, which will help Saudi Arabia with energy savings through energy efficiency and/or energy conservation measures. It is also be helpful to establish standards to facilitate application in various sectors and processes for a sustainable energy planning. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fractionation and analysis of fluorescent products of lipid peroxidation

The fluorescence excitation spectrum of model conjugated Schiff base compounds that arise from the reaction of malonaldehyde with amino acids was shown to contain a maximum at 260–280 nm in addition to the previously observed maximum at 350–390 nm. Excitation at either maximum results in emission at a single maximum at 440–480 nm. The excitation and emission maxima of the model fluorescent compounds, together with the characteristic reductions in fluorescence intensity caused by alkaline pH or heavy metal coordination, provide criteria with which to examine lipid peroxidation products for the presence of the conjugated Schiff base fluorophore. Silicic acid column chromatography and silica gel thin layer chromatography were employed to fractionate the fluorescent products of model lipid peroxidation systems and of rat testicular lipid soluble extracts. These products contained large families of compounds whose fluorescence characteristics were the same as those of the Schiff base floorophores. The fractionation methods used enabled more thorough fluorescence characterization of many of the products of lipid peroxidation, but the fluores-cence criteria available do not provide definitive proof of structure.     

Comparative analysis of mass transfer at vibrating electrodes

The application of oscillatory flows to electrochemical processes was found to increase the rate of mass transfer and improve the quality of deposit. Various mechanisms to which this phenomenon is attributable are discussed and expressions for the average rate of mass transfer, resulting thereof, are derived. Comparison with experimental data indicates that the stretched-film concept, although an oversimplification of the physical situation, is most successful in correlating the data.Nomenclature A Amplitude of oscillatory motion (cm) - c Concentration of the diffusing species (g mol cm^–3) - D Diffusivity (cm² s^–1) - F Frequency of oscillation (Hz) - k Instantaneous mass transfer coefficient (cm s^–1) - ¯k _vib Time-average vibratory mass transfer coefficient (cm s^–1) - L Length of active area (cm) - S Velocity gradient at solid-liquid interface (cm s^–1 cm^–1) - u Oscillatory velocity of fluid layers adjacent to the electrode (cm s^–1) - _u Rel Relative velocity between the electrode and the bulk of the fluid (cm s^–1) - v Relative velocity between the electrode and the fluid layers adjacent to it (cm s^–1) - W Width of active area (cm) - x Distance along the surface of the electrode (cm) - z Distance perpendicular to the surface of the electrode (cm) - Dimensionless distance=z(S/9Dx)^1/3 - Dimensionless distance=z ²/2 - Kinematic viscosity of the electroyte (cm² s^–1) - Angular frequency=2F     

Enhanced field electron emission properties of hierarchically structured MWCNT-based cold cathodes

Hierarchically structured MWCNT (h-MWCNT)-based cold cathodes were successfully achieved by means of a relatively simple and highly effective approach consisting of the appropriate combination of KOH-based pyramidal texturing of Si (100) substrates and PECVD growth of vertically aligned MWCNTs. By controlling the aspect ratio (AR) of the Si pyramids, we were able to tune the field electron emission (FEE) properties of the h-MWCNT cathodes. Indeed, when the AR is increased from 0 (flat Si) to 0.6, not only the emitted current density was found to increase exponentially, but more importantly its associated threshold field (TF) was reduced from 3.52 V/μm to reach a value as low as 1.95 V/μm. The analysis of the J-E emission curves in the light of the conventional Fowler-Nordheim model revealed the existence of two distinct low-field (LF) and high-field (HF) FEE regimes. In both regimes, the hierarchical structuring was found to increase significantly the associated β_LF and β_HF field enhancement factors of the h-MWCNT cathodes (by a factor of 1.7 and 2.2, respectively). Pyramidal texturing of the cathodes is believed to favor vacuum space charge effects, which could be invoked to account for the significant enhancement of the FEE, particularly in the HF regime where a β_HF as high as 6,980 was obtained for the highest AR value of 0.6.     

Supported SiO2‐nBuSnCl3/MAO/(nBuCp)2ZrCl2 catalyzing MAO cocatalyst‐free ethylene polymerization: Study of hydrogen responsiveness

A supported metallocene catalyst was synthesized by sequentially loading methylaluminoxane (MAO) (30 wt % in toluene) and (ⁿBuCp)₂ZrCl₂ on partially dehydroxylated silica ES 70 modified by ⁿBuSnCl₃. Its shock load hydrogen responsiveness was evaluated by polymerizing ethylene for 1 h at 8.5 bar (g) and 75°C without separately feeding the MAO cocatalyst. The shock load hydrogen feeding increased the ethylene consumption (at a fairly constant rate), catalyst productivity, as well as the resin bulk density and average particle size at ΔP (of hydrogen) ≥～3.0 psi. The bulk density increased from 0.25 to 0.31 g/cm³. This shows a procedure for overcoming the inherent drop in catalyst productivity caused by heterogenization of metallocenes (that is a method for catalyst activation) and improving the resulting resin bulk density. The volume‐weighted mean particle diameter of the resulting polyethylenes was found to be 5.80–11.12‐fold that of the catalyst corresponding to ΔP = 0.00–7.11 psi, respectively. The resulting kinetic profiles showed to be fairly stable. However, M_w and polydispersity index were not affected. The particle size distribution, average particle size, and the scanning electron microscope photographs of the resulting resin particles confirmed the occurrence of the replication phenomenon. On the basis of the above findings, the mechanism of ethylene polymerization under the present experimental conditions has been revisited. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 2007     

Arsenic detection by nanogold/conducting‐polymer‐modified glassy carbon electrodes

This article discusses the results for the development of a nanogold‐particle/polyaniline‐modified glassy carbon electrode for the detection of arsenic(III) in water. A thin polyaniline film was electropolymerized onto a glassy carbon electrode. The gold nanoparticle was then deposited onto the polyaniline‐coated glassy carbon electrode via potential step electrolysis from 1.1 to 0 V versus Ag/AgCl/NaCl (saturated) for 45 s from a 0.5M H₂SO₄ solution containing 0.1 mM NaAuCl₄ in the absence and presence of a 0.1 mM KI additive. The surface of the modified electrode was examined with scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic and anodic stripping voltammetry of arsenic(III) was performed on the modified electrode. The thus modified nanogold‐particle/polyaniline‐modified glassy carbon electrode prepared in the presence of the I^? (KI) additive showed a high sensitivity in detecting arsenic(III) in water, and with stripping voltammetry, a limit of detection of 0.4 ppb arsenic was obtained, which is much lower than the arsenic guideline limit of the World Health Organization. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 104: 1306–1311, 2007     

Influence of Polymer Type and Structure on Polymer Modified Asphalt Concrete Mix

Two low‐density polyethylene (LDPE) resins and two ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) polymers were used to modify asphalt binder, and then mixed with asphalt concrete according to Marshall Method of mix design (ASTM D 1559). Effect of weight average molecular weight (M_w) of LDPE and vinyl acetate (VA) content of EVA was studied by performing Marshall Stability, moisture susceptibility (AASHTO T 283‐89), resilient modulus (M_R) and permanent deformation (rutting) tests. EVA with low VA content showed lower stability loss in Marshall Stability test and improved resistance in moisture susceptibility test in comparison to hot mix asphalt concrete mix (HMA) and other polymer modified asphalt concrete mixes (PMAMs). Higher M_R and better rutting resistance were observed for PMAMs than that of HMA. This elastic behaviour of modified asphalt correlates very well with the M_R and rutting resistance properties of PMAM.